About Me

For 30 years now, I’ve been working to create sustainable life-enhancing opportunities and a safe environment for women and children in the northeast.

This primarily involves putting an end to unsafe migration that leads to exploitation, and is one of the key drivers of human trafficking from the region.

I strongly believe you cannot end human trafficking of women and children, until women at the grassroots are skilfully empowered and economically self-sufficient.

Which is why, my work stands on two pillars: Impulse NGO Network that raises awareness and fights the problem of human trafficking; and Impulse Social Enterprises, that helps create sustainable livelihood and eliminate one of the key triggers for human trafficking.

Partnershipsfor innovation in thought and action drive what we do, and create a multiplier effect that makes our work globally scalable and sustainable.

What started out as a mission in my home state of Meghalaya, has today evolved into the Impulse Model, which is a global program that’s being studied and replicated worldwide.

I believe social entrepreneurship must have a positive socio-economic impact, where growth and progress aren’t measured by profit, but by the change in values, thought and action exhibited.

What started out as a small effort to help local Meghalaya artisans sell homemade products back in the 1980s, has today evolved into Impulse Empower – an artisan brand and program for sustainable livelihood for over 3,000 women from 6 different tribes spread out across northeast India.

Over the years, Impulse NGO Network, Impulse Social Entreprises, and I have won several awards and have been recognised for the positive socio-economic impact we’ve made on local societies and indigenous people.

To me, these accolades ratify that our model works, and more importantly, they re-affirm the value of our partnerships all those we work with – including the media, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, philanthropic trusts, and other NGOs.

Most importantly, the coverage we get helps not just to enhance the confidence and sentiment of the women we work with, but also help boost local small-scale entrepreneurship.

At the end of the day, it is this bottom-up upliftment of society, and overall enhancement of our economy, that leads to creating a life of safety and dignity.

Which is what I started out to achieve in the first place, 30 years ago!

More About Me

Awards

As Founder of Impulse NGO Network and Impulse Social Enterprises, I have won several awards and accolades, on various occasions and platforms, for my contributions to people and society.

I owe all the awards and recognition to the incredible support and tireless energy of my co-founders, team members, and countless partners over the years.

Writing is a passion that I have pursued over the years. It helps my unconscious mind relive the thoughts and ideas in my head, that could get lost amid the many things I juggle in my mind and the chaos of daily life.

I write regularly on my blog here, and also for magazines and newspapers around the world. Over the years, I have also been featured in several books, and also co-authored one.

Besides writing on the subject of human and social development, I have also published a book of my poems.

As a Consultant and Researcher, I have conducted numerous studies and projects examining women’s and children’s issues, HIV/AIDS, human rights, and human trafficking. I have worked in various capacities including a manager, researcher, coordinator, and editor for various projects supported by various domestic agencies and international organizations including World Bank, UNIFEM and UNODC.

I am also an experienced Trainer, specializing in skill development and capacity building to fight HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and human trafficking, having trained a wide range of audiences, including law enforcement officers, media personnel, NGO members, and of course, youth.

Entrepreneurship

I have been involved in social development work since I was a teenager. My first experience with social entrepreneurship began with creating sustainable livelihood projects in rural villages, in the 1980s.

I believe “A successful entrepreneur is married to a vision and cannot rest until it has transformed society”. Working as a social change maker in the truest sense, I have passionately to pursued my vision in social development via independent projects and both my Impulse organizations.

Fellowships

Over the years I have been blessed with opportunities to meet and learn from some incredible people around the world. I owe a large part of this to the Fellowships I have earned and the organisations behind them.

I was awarded an Ashoka Fellowship in 2006, to support the implementation of the Meghalaya Model in the entire Northeast region of India and to work with other stakeholders to integrate its strategy nationwide.

I am also an Aspen Fellow of the India Leadership Initiative, and I have also been honoured with a Fulbright Scholarship.

Professional Skills

Besides the work I do for my social enterprises, I also undertake assignments in social development. These include Consultancy and Training projects, for strategy, planning, skill development, and capacity building.

In addition to this, I have also been a Speaker at various forums and occasions, sharing my experiences, insights, and ideas in the area of social development and the fight against human trafficking.